Report: Video shows recent al Qaeda gathering

Apr. 15, 2014
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by William M. Welch, USA TODAY

by William M. Welch, USA TODAY

A newly surfaced video appears to show a large meeting of al Qaeda figures in Yemen discussing attacks against the United States, CNN reported Tuesday.

U.S. officials are analyzing the video, CNN reported. It said the CIA and Pentagon either didn't know about the meeting or were unable to target and hit the gathering with a drone strike.

The video first appeared on jihadist websites and attracted the attention of global terrorism experts and U.S. national security officials, the network reported. It said U.S. officials believe the gathering was held recently.

The video shows Nasir al-Wuhayshi, described as the No. 2 leader of the al Qaeda terror organization globally and head of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, telling more than 100 followers he wants to attack the United States.

Al-Wuhayshi is shown saying: "We must eliminate the cross. ... The bearer of the cross is America!"

CNN reported that unnamed U.S. officials call the video authentic. CNN terrorism analyst Paul Cruickshank called it "an extraordinary video'' and said the al Qaeda leader was taking a big risk by attending such a gathering.